Pre-Ballet lesson plan – free download

I was chatting with one of my former students Sarah, the other day and she was telling me that she had just been employed to teach Pre-Ballet classes.  Sympathetically, I listened as she told me a now-familiar tale.  Sarah told me how excited she had been for the first class and how much planning and preparation she had done and then…. how TERRIBLY the whole thing had gone.  She had experienced the whole enchilada, crying children, children running wildly around the room, the tiny dancers not being able to follow what Sarah was trying to teach them…she was frazzled, upset and had no idea what to do! My student Sarah is a beautiful dancer and had assisted me for many years with school-aged classes.  BUT as any Pre-Ballet teacher will tell you, Preschool dance classes are a WHOLE different kettle of fish.  It can at times seem like it has more in common with herding kittens than teaching dance.

How can a Pre-Ballet lesson plan help?

Sure it can be hectic but, it absolutely doesn’t have to be that way.  With a well-designed Pre-Ballet lesson plan, everything is possible. I sent Sarah a link to the Preschool Ballet Blueprint along with a copy of the Mini Pre-Ballet lesson plan available to download below. Wishing her luck, I told her I’d give her a call after her next class.  The Sarah I spoke to that next week was thrilled and excited at how well it had all gone.  Give a girl the right Pre-Ballet lesson plan and she can conquer the world!   A solid Pre-Ballet lesson plan, showing what to teach, and most importantly how to teach is a game changer!

Pre-Ballet – the fundamentals

Teaching Pre-Ballet is totally different from teaching school-age classes, but there are some fundamentals.  These are absolutely KEY to ensuring that your Pre-Ballet classes are not only calm, organized, and enjoyable but also pedagogically sound.  Simple things such as:

• Studio organisation
• How students enter the room
• The use of place markers
• How to implement class phases
• Which props to use
• What to teach, when, and how.

These are the hallmarks of an effective Pre-Ballet lesson plan. To get started, try out his min Pre-Ballet class plan which is designed as a basic first class and will give you a good overview of how to structure your class.  If you are ready you can check out the full Preschool Ballet Blueprint over here.

You may also like these Pre-Ballet articles

5 tools every Preschool Dance Teacher Needs

5 tips for a successful Preschool Ballet Class

Who else wants a done for you Preschool Easter Dance class plan?

Easter is nearly here and time is running out to design and advertise special Easter-themed classes.  Relax!  That’s where our click and go class plans and activity packs come in.  Just take a few moments to download and you are good to go. The Preschool Easter Dance Class Plan includes playlist, coloring and activity sheets, fully choreographed exercises plus circuits, games, and activities.  All you have to do is download and teach.  These tried and tested class plans are based on the bestselling Preschool Ballet Blueprint, the downloadable Preschool curriculum that is currently being used worldwide to deliver super popular preschool Programs. 

The Preschool Easter Dance Class Plan includes a range of sequenced exercises from warm-up through stretching, basic ballet steps, and locomotion exercises all with a fun Easter theme.  Take your students on a fun-filled adventure where they will go on an Easter egg hunt, take part in an Easter Hat parade, experiment with rhythms, levels, speeds, directions, and work on fine and gross motor skills, jumping, hopping, skipping.  Watch them hop like a bunny, roll like an egg and pose like a flower.

The Preschool Easter Dance Class Plan takes care of marketing with a selection of social media graphics done for you plus an informative flyer that you can send to parents.  This not only helps cement the concepts covered in class but also builds parental engagement and trust.  Parents who love your program will spread the word! After the class give your students the coloring pages and activity sheets to further enhance their experience.  You can post samples of their work during the week or hang them up around the studio. Join the thousands of schools already enjoying these affordable and easy-to-use class plans designed in conjunction with qualified ballet teachers and childhood development professionals. 

This dance class plan is part of the Ballet Blueprint series, designed to give you the skills and knowledge to deliver a quality, pedagogically sound Preschool Dance program without huge outlays.  Regular preschool teachers don’t reinvent the wheel every time they step into a class.  They have set class plans that are well structured and predictable.  The Ballet Blueprint series is based on this concept and has been tried, tested, and tweaked so you can deliver your Preschool dance classes without chaos or stress.

Move beyond follow-along action songs and the freeze game to a curriculum that follows childhood development principles, is age-appropriate and is designed so that their first steps are the right ones.  You can learn more about the Blueprint series here and grab your Preschool Easter Dance Class Plan right here.

Unicorn Preschool Ballet class plan

Is there a Preschool Ballet student not obsessed with Unicorns? Unicorns are the Zeitgeist of our time but Unicorn themed songs for Preschoolers are a little harder to come by.  Never fear your Unicorn Preschool Ballet class plan is here! And if you teach 5-6-year-olds there is a version for them too.  This Unicorn Preschool Ballet class plan is based on the Ballet Blueprint series, the best-selling downloadable ballet curriculum which is currently used worldwide as a best practice pre-ballet curriculum.  It has been designed, tested, and tweaked so that you can download and hit the dance floor running.  Created with a firm foundation in fostering correct ballet technique around childhood development principles you can be confident that your Preschool program is pedagogically sound and that students will graduate primed to move into formal ballet training.  Studios rise and fall on their Preschool program and tapping into this revenue stream puts your studio on strong foundations.  However, finding a Preschool program that ticks all the boxes, that can be used by multiple instructors but which doesn’t cost a bomb or require expensive membership fees can be challenging.  The Ballet Blueprint series is tried and tested and a simple no-fuss option to build a quality Preschool Dance program that you can be proud of and rely on to actually prepare your youngest dancers for their formal training. If you want a class of superstar minis you need to get started early.

Vivian Brent  (Encore Performing Arts) – I was badly burned by a big name Preschool franchise.  I wish I’d just purchased this to start with.  It has everything I need.  I can provide each of my instructors with a copy and I can be confident  that my Preschool program will be well organised, uniform and something that the children really enjoy and benefit from.

Like all the Resources for Dance Teachers mini-class plans, the Unicorn Preschool Ballet class plan comes with a playlist, fully choreographed exercises that focus on fine and gross motor skill development, directions, levels, speed, and bucketloads of imaginative play.  The class plan also comes with a coloring page.  As a special bonus, there is also a Beginners Ballet version for your younger students aged 5-7.

You can learn more about the Ballet Blueprint series here and find more mini-class plans here and a whole range of fabulous coloring pages and ballet activities here.

To download your free Unicorn Preschool Ballet class plan with a bonus 5-7-year-old version just enter your email below.

St Patricks’ Day Preschool dance class plan

No more scrambling to find last-minute activities for St Patrick’s day – your pot of gold is right here!   Simply download and enjoy this free St Patrick’s Day Preschool Dance class plan complete with playlist, fully choreographed exercises, activities, place markers, and boy and girl St Patrick’s Day coloring pages.  This mini-class plan has everything you need to provide a fun St Patrick’s day themed dance class.  The exercises focus on levels, speed, tempo, sequencing, fine and gross motor skills, and bucket loads of FUN.  This Preschool Dance class plan is based on the best-selling downloadable ballet curriculum, the Ballet Blueprint series which takes you from Mommy & Me through Preschool and onto Beginners Ballet.  The  Blueprint is currently being used worldwide to deliver quality ballet instruction.  With extensive playlists,  clear class phases, and a fully choreographed syllabus, the Blueprint gives you everything you need to download and go.  It has been designed and tested to be pedagogically sound and works around milestones of childhood development so you can be assured that your program will enhance cognitive, physical, and social development.  The Blueprint also offers comprehensive strategies for behavioral expectations giving you the tools to deal with everything from separation anxiety to fostering a love of dance.  We all know how difficult it is to undo bad early training and with a focus on developing strong technique, the Blueprint ensures their first steps are the right ones.  Students trained wth the Blueprint commence formal training 18 months years ahead of their peers and it is an advantage that continues right through their training.   You can find out more about the Blueprint here.

The Blueprint has revolutionized my studio.  I finally have a well organised and popular Preschool Program that feeds seamlessly into my school aged program.  The difference in my junior school is amazing and I’m excited to see this new generation of students progress through the studio.  -Annie Moore (Ballet Director, Starz Academy)

To download your free St Patrick’s Day Preschool dance class plan, just enter your email below.

If you are looking for more resources for dance teaching, check out our Ballet Activity packs, Ballet Theory packs and Growth Mindset resources.

Halloween Preschool Dance class plan & coloring pages

Halloween is such a fun time for dance class – so many great spooky songs to use and all sorts of great dance activities to enjoy.  Make sure you are all set for your Halloween Preschool Dance classes with the mini class plan which focuses on fine and gross motor skills, directions, sequencing, levels, tempo, and of course, imaginative play.  And as a special treat please also enjoy these Halloween Dance coloring pages.

This Halloween Preschool Dance class plan is based on the Preschool Ballet Blueprint, a downloadable class plan currently being used worldwide to deliver fun, popular, well-organized Preschool dance programs. You can learn more about the Blueprint here and grab the full range of Seasonal Preschool Ballet coloring pages for girls and boys here. In the meantime, grab your free downloadable Halloween Preschool Dance Class plan and coloring page by entering your email below.

Free Preschool Dance class plan – Under the Sea

Please enjoy the latest Resources for Dance Teacher free Mini Preschool Dance class plan.  This downloadable under the sea themed class plan is designed for dancers aged 3-5 and includes a Playlist, choreographed exercises, circuit, colouring page and a range of exercises and activities designed to inspire creativity while developing fine and gross motor skills.  The exercises incorporate levels, sequencing, directions, speeds and work on a range of developmental, age appropriate skills,  Take your dancers on a imagination fuelled under the sea journey where they will dance like crabs, splash in the water swim with fish and frolic with the mermaids.  Everything is done for you so you don’t have to worry.  The playlist contains the songs in the mini class plan as well as a range of other under the sea themed songs and is easy to follow, tried and tested.  It is based on the bestselling Preschool Ballet Blueprint – the downloadable ballet curriculum especially for Preschoolers.  This proven curriculum provides you with all the tools to deliver quality Preschool Ballet Instruction that will actually prepare your tiny dancers for their formal dance training.  If you want a class of super star minis you need to get started early and the Blueprint helps you do that.  Students trained with the Blueprint, hit the ground running and commence their formal training 6-12 months ahead of their peers.  And the best part – it is an advantage that stays with them!  

You can download your fee Mini class plan by entering your email below.

If you would like to learn more about the Preschool Ballet Blueprint click here and for more seasonal and themed free class plans, please click here.

Free Preschool Ballet class plan – Penguin-themed.

These free Preschool class plans are perfect for adding a bit of variety to your Preschool Ballet Program.  All the themes and exercises are tried and tested and are not only pedagogically sound but are designed to delight and enchant your students.  The exercises included incorporate gross and fine motor skills, levels, speed, directions, and imaginative play.  Take your young ballerinas on a journey into the Antarctic where they will explore a range of penguin-inspired movements and themes.

The free Preschool Ballet class plan includes a playlist, a coloring sheet and 5 choreographed exercises where students will waddle and march, slide and glide, jump into the water and flap their flippers.  Everything is done for you so you can be confident that it will work.  This class plan is appropriate for Zoom and for in-studio learning.

Songs and activities include

1. 5 little penguins -a plié exercise which incorporates fine motor skills and involves counting and sequencing.
2. Did you ever see a Penguin? – a tendu exercise which works with gross motor skills and imaginative play
3. Walk like a Penguin – This exercise is guaranteed to produce giggles.  It incorporates directions, sequences and imaginative play
4. Penguins are marching – this is a fantastic rhythmical exercise that incorporates articulation and balance.
5. Doin’ the Penguin – a tired and true favorite and one that my tiny ballerinas ask for EVERY single week!!!

This free Preschool Ballet class plan is based on the bestselling Preschool Ballet Blueprint, the much-loved downloadable Preschool Ballet Curriculum.  The Blueprint has been tried and tested, tweaked, and enhanced so that all the work is done for you.  You can rest assured that you are delivering a quality Preschool Ballet program that children and parents alike LOVE.  The Blueprint is designed to actually prepare students for formal ballet training so the when your Preschool Ballerinas join your school-aged class they hit the ground running.  This is priceless when it comes to ensuring the development of your studio.  Students trained with the Blueprint start their training 12-18 months ahead of their peers and the difference keeps on building.  If you want a team of superstar minis, start them off right and watch them fly!!  You can find out more about the Preschool  Ballet Blueprint here and download your free Preschool Ballet class plan by entering your email below.

If you are looking for more free seasonal preschool ballet class plans and other Preschool Ballet resources click here.

Valentines Preschool Dance activities and class plan

There is nothing like a holiday to spice up your Preschool  Dance classes!  However running around locating music, thinking up new exercises, etc can be so time-consuming, so please enjoy this free Valentines Preschool Dance mini-class plan.  Like all our mini-class plans it comes complete with

• Valentines playlist, containing a wide selection of Valentine’s themed Preschool dance music
• 5 choreographed steps and activities
• Prop suggestions
• Valentines themed Preschool Dance circuit

The exercises focus on developing motor skills, introducing ballet technique, exploring levels, speed and movement.  The Valentines Preschool dance activities and class plan are based on the Preschool Ballet Blueprint. The Ballet Blueprint system is currently used worldwide to deliver thousands of successful Preschool Dance lessons every week.  This Preschool Ballet curriculum tells you exactly what to teach, when, and most importantly how.

There is an extensive teacher manual with tips on class control and on dealing with disruptive students so you can structure a class that is engaging, fun, and pedagogically sound.  Once you understand the recipe for a successful Preschool dance class, you can transition from being a glorified bab sitter to actually delivering classes that help prepare your young students for their formal dance training.  Your Preschool Dance program will become part of the whole dance training process and the results continue to show as your students progress through your school. Do the work early so that you can benefit later. You can learn more about the Blueprint here.

You can download your Valentines Preschool Dance activities and class plan by entering your email below.

You can find more Preschool Mini Class Plans here

And learn more about the Preschool Ballet Blueprint system here.

5 tools every Preschool Dance Teacher needs

Give a girl the right shoes and she’ll conquer the world, give a Preschool Dance teacher the right tools and they can conquer even the most testing class! So what are the 5 tools every Preschool Dance teacher needs? Teaching Preschool Dance can be a roller coaster – just when you start to think things are going smoothly disaster can strike and then sometimes when you are expecting the worst, you pull out a textbook example of Preschool Dance Success.  All this to say, that if there is one thing that Preschool Dance teaching stands for it is adaptability.  You absolutely need to be ready for just about anything, yep literally ANYTHING and it sure helps to have the right equipment!

Top 5 tools for Preschool Dance Teachers

1.Playlist

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, Preschool Dance Success rises and falls on your Playlist.  If you can set and forget your music that is one less thing to distract you from the class at hand.  Double points if you have an Apple Watch.  This means you can control your playlist and skip ahead, all whilst jumping around waving a pom-pom.  Your playlist should contain the music for your whole class, in order, PLUS some emergency action songs.  You can find some good ones here.

2. Plan

Do not even THINK about tackling a Preschool Dance class without a plan, do not pass go, and certainly do NOT collect $200. Believe me when I say that there is little more terrifying than staring down a group of toddlers with no clear idea of what you are doing next.   A well-planned dance class for Preschoolers is so much more fun for students and teachers alike, so take the time.  Even better, save your time and use a curriculum or ready-made class plan.  The Preschool Ballet Blueprint was developed after delivering thousands of Preschool Dance classes and has been honed and refined so that you can confidentially deliver your own wildly successful Preschool Dance classes with all the work done for you.  It comes complete with a Playlist, choreographed curriculum, prop list, and loads of effective tips and tricks.  Most importantly it works!  I swear by it.  You can download your copy of this great Preschool Dance curriculum here.

3. Props

Props are a Preschool Dance teacher’s best friend.  They are not only fun and engaging for Preschoolers but also help fuel their imagination.  In addition, they are a great help when it comes to structuring your Preschool dance class as they help to mark out the different class phases and the giving out and putting away of props not only helps teach turn-taking and patience but also adds a nice rhythm to the class. You can read more about Props for Preschool dance here.

4. Place Markers

The thought of conducting a Preschool Dance class without place markers fills me with dread.  When thinking about the top 5 tools every Preschool Dance teacher needs this is certainly one of the essentials!! Place makers help in so many ways.  First of all, it helps with the structure, organization, and discipline of the class.  If your dancers have a spot where they stand for certain phases of the class you are halfway to a smooth and successful class.  Place markers also help children feel secure which, if they are feeling a little overwhelmed at coming into the big studio by themselves, can really help them out.  Finally, as you move through your class, you can move your place markers around to create different patterns.  For example, you can use them for moving across the floor, you can make little obstacle courses with them, the sky really is the limit.  You can use poly dots like these or I really like mats like this. They are a bit of an investment but last for years and are super cute.

5. Pom Poms 

I know I know, I’ve already mentioned props as one of the 5 tools every Preschool Dance Teacher needs, but…..Pom Poms are so great, I think they deserve their own mention.  They have gotten me out of a fix SO MANY TIMES and they are so much fun.  Ending a Preschool Dance class with a Pom Pom party leaves everyone feeling happy and energized.  I love these ones and I like to have mainly the same color to avoid endless requests for certain colors.  If you aren’t Shaking your Sillies out or having a Party at the Zoo while jumping around waving your Pom Pom you can explore levels and speeds and also use them as a pony tail for Pony gallops.

What to teach 3-year-olds in dance class

One of the questions I am asked most frequently is what to teach 3-year-olds in dance class.  As the Preschool years are such a time of rapid development, when you are planning your Preschool Dance classes each age group needs careful attention.  3-year-olds can be a particular challenge as they are often just coming out of Mommy and Me dance classes.  The 3-4 age group is the first time dancers are coming into the room on their own and you need to make sure they feel safe and are engaged and stimulated in order to create a fantastic learning environment for your tiny dancers.  When it comes to what to teach 3-year-olds in dance class, here are some tips.  These are based on the widely used Preschool Ballet Blueprint, a downloadable Preschool dance curriculum that provides a solid foundation for providing quality Preschool Dance instruction.

Class phases 

1. Entering the room routine – this may sound obvious but if you don’t have a clear plan for how your dancers are going to enter the room, disaster will strike before you have even danced a step.  At this young age, separating from caregivers can be nerve-wracking, so establishing a predictable routine is key for setting the tone for a wonderful dance class.  Your dancers should start to follow a routine where they enter the studio and find their own special spot. Place markers are fantastic as they give dancers a feeling of security and help to keep the class organized and running smoothly. You can use poly dots, mats, or laminated pictures. Mats are also a great option and last for years.

2. A warm-up and articulation – when it comes to what to teach 3-year-olds in dance class, the warm-up phase is key.  Engaging your tiny dancers right from the first moment of the class is super important.  A playlist is a great help as you can set it going and proceed straight through around 5 songs.  It is a great idea to start with some familiar nursery rhymes. If a student is feeling a little overwhelmed or nervous, hearing something familiar can really help them out.  This phase can also include some simple articulation such as happy toes, sad toes, simple hand movements, and gentle stretches.

3. Simple ballet steps – Next jump straight into some simple ballet steps. There is no need to teach the exercise or launch into lengthy explanations of how to do a step. Simply start your playlist and have the children follow you.  As the weeks progress, you can start to refine technique a little at a time.

Steps to include 

1. 1. Pliés
   2. Tendus
   3. Retiré/Passé balance
   4. Relevé with pitter patter turns
   5. Sways
   6. Sautés

4. Locomotion – Once the simple ballet section is over you can start on locomotion or across the room steps.  Once again it is very useful to use place markers that the children move between in a variety of ways.  Locomotion steps for 3-year-olds should include

1. 1. 1. Walks on demi point (fairy runs)
      2. Marches
      3. Pony gallops
      4. Sideways gallops holding hands with a partner
      5. Skips (these will be a work in progress over the year)

5. Creative movement/game – the final phase should be some sort of creative movement or game..

The Preschool Ballet Blueprint, a dance curriculum especially for Preschoolers has detailed instructions on all of the above Phases, as well as a choreographed syllabus that is pedagogically sound and developed over years of successful Preschool Dance instruction. You can find out more about it here.

Other considerations when thinking about what to teach 3-year-olds in dance are Props and extra activities.

Props for 3-year-old dance class

Potential props for 3-year-old dance class are

1. Scarves
2. Wands
3. Fairy wings
4. Bean Bags
5. Crowns
6. Shakers
7. Pom Poms

Final words

When it comes to what to teach in 3-year-old dance class there are THREE very important pieces of advice.

1. Follow a predictable class plan.  Whilst it may be tempting to use different music each week and throw in a variety of activities, Preschool Dance classes succeed and fail on predictability.  It is vital to get the mix right.  Until you feel that your class is very settled it really helps to follow exactly the same class plan. Once the children feel that they know what is expected of them and start to get excited for what is coming next, your class will start to run very smoothly.
2. Plan B  Even though we are aiming for predictability, even the best-laid plans can fall apart in an instant when it comes to Preschool Dance class.  Even if your class runs relatively smoothly, sometimes things just go more quickly than you think and there really is little more terrifying than staring down a group of 3-year-old dancers and having no idea what to do with them.  Build your list of extra activities. When things aren’t going so well, a quick change of activity or suddenly bringing out the Pom Poms can be just the circuit breaker you need.
3. Add variety as you would spices.  When thinking about what to teach 3-year-olds in dance class, whilst routine and predictability are key, everyone appreciates a little spice now and again.  Whilst you don’t want to be adding in new songs and themes week after week, once you have your class settled and confident it is tremendous fun to add in some unexpected activities.  You can find a range of mini seasonal class plans that you can sprinkle on your standard weekly classes here.

Lastly, the most important piece of advice on what to teach 3-year-olds in dance class is to teach them with a sense of FUN and enjoyment.  As a Preschool Dance teacher, you are part dance instructor and part children’s entertainer.  You are aiming to not only introduce basic dance technique but also to foster a love of dance that will hopefully last a lifetime.  Above all else, keep the element of fun forefront in your mind when designing your classes.  Use games, funny sayings, and imaginative play to introduce your tiny dancer to a fulfilled dance adventure.